It’ll hit the spot in terms of sweetness, but it comes without the side-helping of guilt!

Here are ten of the healthiest fruits you can enjoy to curb your sweet tooth.

Blueberries

Blueberries have been ranked number one in terms of antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables – meaning if you want to snack on something sweet, these could be your best bet for added health benefits.

According to Tufts University researchers, eating blueberries regularly has been linked to better short-term memory.

These juicy berries may even improve insulin sensitivity, which is important for staving off type 2 diabetes.

One piece of research found that 67% of people who drank a blueberry smoothie twice daily for six weeks had at least a 10% improvement in insulin sensitivity.

It’s thought that the high antioxidant content of blueberries may also help fight certain types of cancer. Research indicates that compounds in the fruit can stop tumors and lesions from forming, particularly in relation to oral cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer.

Blueberries are also a good sweet treat option for those watching their weight. Not only will their sweetness stop you from tearing into a packet of Oreos, but they may actually help burn belly fat.

A University of Michigan study found that obese rats fed blueberry enriched meals actually lost fat from their stomachs, whereas the placebo group did not.

Apples

Apples are another great fruit to snack on if you’re looking to lose weight, mainly because they’re high in fiber and have a low glycemic index.

Research has proven that choosing apples over cookies as a snack will help you lose weight.

In the study, women were assigned to eat either three apples, three pears or three oat cookies a day. The women snacking on the fruit lost 1.3 kg over a period of 12 weeks.

Apples are also a good snack choice for people with respiratory problems, specifically asthma.

A study published in 2001 found that those who ate two to five apples a week had a 32% lower risk of asthma than people who ate less.

And, a later study showed the children of women who ate four apples a week during pregnancy were 37% less likely to have a history of wheezing and 53% less likely to have doctor-confirmed asthma, over those whose mothers ate one or less apples a week.

A study, looking at the effects of watermelon on heart health in mice, found that mice who drank watermelon juice had around 50% less plaque in their arteries than the mice who didn’t. They also had lower cholesterol levels and less weight gain.

Another compound in watermelon, called lycopene (which is also found in tomatoes), may further protect heart health.

A 2011 study from South Korea found that lycopene can reduce oxidative stress, blood pressure levels and inflammation, all of which contribute to an unhealthy heart.

One cup of diced watermelon contains just 46 calories, 21% of your daily vitamin C needs and 17% vitamin A, along with trace amounts of other important vitamins and minerals.

The researchers point to the hesperidin content as the likely source of the heart benefits.

Even though this study used orange juice, as opposed to the whole orange, it may be more beneficial to eat the whole fruit – as you’ll be getting some fiber, which slows the absorption of the fruit’s sugar and stops you crashing.

This is because potassium can actually reduce the effects of sodium in the body, something that is notorious for causing hypertension (high blood pressure).

A large analysis that looked at numerous studies (carried out between 1966 and 2009) on the relationship of potassium, blood pressure and heart health, found that consuming around 1.3 grams of potassium daily reduces your risk of heart disease by 26%.

One large banana has almost 0.5 grams of potassium, in addition to 121 calories, 25% of your vitamin B6 requirement, 20% of vitamin C, 18% of manganese and 14% of your fiber needs.

Check out my article on bananas for more of their healthful properties – from aiding digestion to boosting your workout.

Papaya

One cup of delicious papaya cubes has just 55 calories, 144% of your daily dose of vitamin C, 31% of your vitamin A needs, 13% of folate and 10% of both your potassium and fiber requirements.

In fact, papaya is one of the highest fruit sources of vitamin A. This fat-soluble vitamin is important for healthy skin, teeth, tissue and vision.

So important is vitamin A for our eyesight that a deficiency can lead to night blindness.

One study, which looked at a patient deficient in vitamin A, found that it took an entire seven months of vitamin A supplementation for night vision levels to return to normal.

A lack of vitamin A has also been linked to inflammation in the intestines, lungs and skin whereas studies have found that supplementing with vitamin A helps with several inflammatory conditions.

Papayas are also a pretty rich source of vitamin C – giving more than your daily requirement of the stuff. Dr Mark Moyad of the University of Michigan claims that “high blood levels of vitamin C may be the ideal nutrition marker for overall health”.

Avocado

When you think of fruit, you may not instantly think of avocado. Even though it’s not sweet like the other fruits on this list, it’s definitely worth considering.

The good fats in avocado can fill you up and stabilize blood sugar levels, meaning you can say goodbye to those sugar cravings.

A study, published in the Nutrition Journal, found that eating just half an avocado with lunch helped overweight people feel satisfied and full for longer after eating.

Participants in the research reported a 40% less desire to eat over a three-hour period, and a 28% less desire over a five-hour period after the meal.

Blood tests showed no increase in blood sugar levels when compared with those who ate a standard lunch with no avocado.

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I maintain the academic record of all students and plans and implements the registration process for classes, I also works with other administrators to coordinate times and locations for class meetings and resolve scheduling conflicts.